Ipomoea plant named ‘IPOSGBRO’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Ipomoea batatas  cultivar named ‘IPOSGBRO’ is disclosed, characterized by light green and red palmate shaped foliage, and a bush forming, habit. Additionally the new cultivar flowers under long day conditions and produces many lateral branches, without pinching or chemical growth regulators. The new cultivar is an  Ipomoea batatas , typically suited for ornamental container and garden use.

Latin name of the genus and species: Ipomoea batatas:

Variety denomination: ‘IPOSGBRO’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new variety originated from a commercial breeding program under thedirection of the inventor, Paul A. Talmadge. The crossing resulting inthe new cultivar was made in Fall of 2007, with the seed parent, anunpatented, unnamed proprietary seedling and the pollen parent, also anunpatented, unnamed proprietary seedling. The new variety was discoveredby the inventor in April of 2008 at a commercial greenhouse in Lompoc,Calif.

After selecting and isolating the new cultivar, asexual reproduction ofthe new cultivar ‘IPOSGBRO’ was first performed in a commercial researchgreenhouse in Lompoc, Calif. during June of 2008. ‘IPOSGBRO’ has sinceproduced several generations and has shown that the unique features ofthis cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type. Asexualreproduction of the new variety is by vegetative cuttings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘IPOSGBRO’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘IPOSGBRO.’ These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘IPOSGBRO’ as a new and distinct Ipomoeacultivar:

-   -   1. Bush forming plant habit    -   2. Unique foliage color an intermediate between light green and        red.    -   3. Long day flowering.    -   4. Average to large foliage size.    -   5. Very well branched, without pinching or chemical growth        regulator use.

PARENTAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘IPOSGBRO’ are similar to the seed parent inmost horticultural characteristics. However, ‘IPOSGBRO’ differs inproducing palmate, rather than cordate shaped foliage. Additionally theseed parent has completely light green colored foliage, short dayflowering, and a vining, poorly branched plant habit.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘IPOSGBRO’ are similar to the pollen parentin most horticultural characteristics. However, ‘IPOSGBRO’ producesgreen-red colored foliage, whereas the pollen parent has dark purplefoliage. Additionally the pollen parent has smaller leaves than‘IPOSGBRO.’

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘IPOSGBRO’ are best compared to thecommercial variety Ipomoea batatas ‘Sweet Caroline Bronze’ U.S. PlantPat. No. 15,437. Plants of ‘IPOSGBRO’ are similar to plants of ‘SweetCaroline Bronze’ in most horticultural characteristics, however, plantsof ‘IPOSGBRO’ form a bush shape, with many short, secondary lateralbranches, whereas ‘Sweet Caroline Bronze’ will develop a vining,trailing habit with age, and requires pinching to develop lateralbranches. Additionally ‘IPOSGBRO’ flowers under long day conditions,whereas ‘Sweet Caroline Bronze’ is short day flowering.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color atypical plant of ‘IPOSGBRO’ grown in a greenhouse in Lompoc, Calif. Thisplant is approximately 8 weeks old, from an unrooted cutting, shown in a6 inch pot pot. The photograph was taken using conventional techniquesand although colors may appear different from actual colors due to lightreflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographictechniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to the PantoneFormula Guide Solid Matte, First Edition 2000-2001, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The followingobservations and measurements describe ‘IPOSGBRO’ plants grown duringthe Summer months in a greenhouse in Lompoc, Calif., under bright,unshaded conditions. Average day temperatures were approximately 26° C.and the average night temperature was approximately 18° C. No artificiallight, photoperiodic treatments or chemical treatments were given to theplants. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typicalplant types.

-   Botanical classification: Ipomoea batatas ‘IPOSGBRO’-   Age of the plant described: Approximately 8 weeks from an unrooted    cutting.-   Container size of the plant described: 6 inch commercial container.

PROPAGATION

-   -   -   Propagation method.—Terminal cuttings.        -   Time to develop roots suitable for transplanting.—Summer —            about 6 days at an average temperature of 24° C.;            Winter-about 10 days at an average temperature of 24° C.        -   Root description.—Thick, fleshy.        -   Tuber description.—None observed.

PLANT

-   -   -   Growth habit.—Compact, upright and mounding.        -   Height.—Measured from top of soil line of pot, approximately            22 cm.        -   Plant spread.—Approximately 50 cm.        -   Growth rate.—Rapid.        -   Branching characteristics.—Very free branching, alternate            occurring.

-   Primary lateral branches:    -   -   Length.—A range between 19-24 cm.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.6 cm.        -   Texture.—Glabrous, with occasional hairs seen with a hand            lens.        -   Color.—Near Pantone 505C.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Internode length.—A range between 0.5-1.0 cm.        -   Adventitious roots at nodes.—Not observed.

-   Secondary lateral branches:    -   -   Length.—Ranging from 2-4 cm.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.3 to 0.4 cm.        -   Texture.—Glabrous, with occasional hairs seen with a hand            lens.        -   Color.—Near Pantone 505C at base, gradually changing to            Pantone 384C at tip.        -   Strength.—Pliable.        -   Internode length.—Range between 0.4 to 0.6 cm.        -   Quantity per 8 week old plant.—Approximately 18.        -   Adventitious roots at nodes.—None observed.

-   New shoot growth characteristics:    -   -   Color.—Pantone 384C.        -   Aspect.—Upright.        -   Texture.—Glabrous.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple.        -   Average length.—Approximately 13 cm.        -   Average width.—Approximately 11-12 cm.        -   Shape of blade.—3 lobed palmate.        -   Apex.—Acuminate.        -   Base.—Cordate to auriculate.        -   Margin.—Entire, with tiny hairs visible with a hand lens.        -   Aspect.—Folded upwards slightly along midrib at base,            flattening to curving downward toward apex.        -   Texture of top surface.—Glabrous.        -   Texture of bottom surface.—Glabrous.        -   Quantity of leaves per lateral branch.—Approximately 11.-   Color:    -   -   Young foliage upper side.—Pantone 384C.        -   Young foliage under side.—Pantone 384C.        -   Mature foliage upper side.—Pantone 385C with a vibrant sheen            of Pantone 505C giving the overall impression of Pantone            491C.        -   Mature foliage under side.—75% Pantone 505C, mottled with            25% Pantone 384C.-   Venation:    -   -   Type.—Palmate: arcuate to reticulate.        -   Venation color upper side.—Pantone 505C.        -   Venation color under side.—Pantone 505C.-   Petiole:    -   -   Length.—A range from approximately 11-13 cm.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.4 cm at base, 0.3 cm at top.        -   Texture.—Mostly glabrous with a few hairs visible with a            hand lens.        -   Color.—Pantone 505C.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Aspect.—Upright to slightly curved.

FLOWER

-   Bloom period: Blooms continuously under 13 hour, or longer, photo    period-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Arrangement.—Single axillary peduncle with buds attached in            a cluster at the top.        -   Type.—Cyme.        -   Height.—Approximately 13 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately 4.5 cm.        -   Quantity of flowers per inflorescence.—3-7 buds, only one            open flower at a time.-   Bud:    -   -   Bud shape.—Slightly twisted ovate with a pointed tip.        -   Bud length.—Approximately 1.8 cm.        -   Bud diameter.—Approximately 0.5 cm.        -   Bud color.—Pantone 451C.        -   Calyx color.—Pantone 506C.-   Individual flower:    -   -   Shape.—Funnel form.        -   Quantity of flowers per plant.—2 observed open.        -   Quantity of buds per plant.—Approximately 75.        -   Diameter of entire flower.—Approximately 4.5 cm.        -   Depth of flower.—Approximately 3.5 cm.        -   Rate of opening.—Fully open 1 day from bud stage.        -   Flower longevity on plant.—1 day.        -   Self cleaning.—Spent flower drops off easily.        -   Fragrance.—None.-   Petals:    -   -   Petals fused.—Funnel form, slightly 5 lobed.        -   Petal texture.—Outside of funnel glabrous; flattened open            top of funnel glabrous: lower interior of funnel has many            hairs.-   Color:    -   -   Outer surface of funnel.—Pantone 524C.        -   Flattened open top of funnel.—Pantone 517C.        -   Interior of funnel.—Pantone 517C with numerous vertical            stripes of Pantone 513C gradually denser towards bottom.

SEPAL

-   -   -   Number.—5.        -   Sepal appearance.—Sepals fully enclose very young buds. Bud            grows beyond sepals 1 cm prior to opening.        -   Sepal arrangement.—Overlapping.        -   Sepal length.—Approximately 0.8 cm.        -   Sepal width.—Approximately 0.3 cm.        -   Sepal shape.—Oblong.        -   Base.—Attached smoothly with acute edges.        -   Apex shape.—Acuminate to aristate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Color.—Pantone 506C.

PEDUNCLE

-   -   -   Present.—Yes.        -   Length.—Approximately: 5-7 cm.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.2-0.3 cm.        -   Angle.—Upright.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Color.—Pantone 506C.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Seeds and fruits: No seeds/fruits observed.-   Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to    the normal pests and diseases of Ipomoea has been observed.-   Temperature tolerance: Tolerates low temperatures to approximately    2° C. Good high temperature tolerance, observed to at least 40° C.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Ipomoea batatas plant named ‘IPOSGBRO’as herein illustrated and described.